Magnetic clutch



Nov. l2, 929'. w. D. MOORE Er AL 5 MAGNETIC CLUTCH Filed Oct. `'7, 1927 ,Patented Nov. 12, 1929 UNITED s'mras Fifi WILLIAM D. MOORE, CLARENCE D. BARR, JAMES W. MOORE, AND WILLIAM J. WILSON, l

OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, ASSIGNORS TO SAND SPUN PATENTS CORPORATION, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE MAGNETio CLUTCH Application med october 7, 1927. seriai No. 224,634.

Thisinvention is an improvement in centrifugal casting machines, and more particularly in electrically controlled mechanism for connecting the motor to the flask or mold.

In the usual practice of centrifugal casting, in accordance with the method set forth in Patent No. 1,471,052, granted October 16,

1923, the flask or mold is rotated by means of an electric motor, connected axially to the mold, the motor being mounted for movement toward and from the mold to facilitate connection and disconnection, thereby to enable rapid removal and replacement of a mold.

One of the primary object-s of the pre'sent invention is the' provision of mechanism for coupling the motor to the mold withoutI the necessity for axial movement of the parts, and in such manner that the mold is permanently held from angular movement with respect to the motor, and is also held from longitudinal movement with respect thereto. v

y Another object is the provision in mechanism of the character specified, of contacting surfaces in connection with motor and flask,

easily renewed in case of wear such as would weaken the grip between the parts.

lVith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts fully described hereinafter, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims appended hereto, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spi-rit of the invention.

In the drawings formino` a part hereof Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a part of a casting machine provided with the improved clutch.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectionof the bell end of the mold.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a diagram vof the wiring for the clutch.

The present embodiment of the invention is shown in connection with a centrifugal casting machine, which includes as one of its elements a carriage, upon which the mold or flask 2 is rotatably mounted. In the present instance pairs of rollers 3 are journaled on the carriage, and the ask has annular tracks 4 which engage the rollers. In the usual practice the ask is held on the rollers 3 by means of a hood not shown having a. cooperating roller for each of the pairs 3.

The motor` 5, electrically controlled, is mounted o n a base 6, which in the usual construction is slidably connected with the carriage at the bell end of the mold or flask. With the improved mechanism forming the subject matter of the present application, the slidable mounting is not essential, though it may be used for convenience if desired. The motor shaft 7 is tapered, and upon this shaft is fitted the hub 8 of a clutch disk 9. Upon the opposite face from the motor the disk has a plurality of integral lugs 10, four in number in the present instance, the said'lugs being of frustostriangular shape in cross section. These lugs are the cores of four coils indicated at 11, wound upon shuttles 12, shaped to fit the lugs and slip thereover.

A suitable construction of coil may be composed of about 1250 turns of No. 2O Deltabeston copper wire, and the coils and shuttles are held in place on the disk bya flanged plate 13, which lits against the ends of the lugs, the flangeV 14 thereof extending outside of the coilsand fitting outside the periphery of the disk 9. Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and.v

3, it will be seen that the plate 13 has Openings at each of the lugs, and that these openings are closed by plates 15 having thickened portions fitting into the openings. Bolts 16 are passed through the plates, t-he lugs, and the plate 9, and are engaged by nuts 17 as shown to connect the parts together, the nuts 'being received in counter-sunk openings in the'face of the disk. v

The plates 15 are wear plates, and are interchangeable or removable, in order that they may be replaced when they become worn. These plates extend beyond the face of the cover plate 13. The plates may be easily removed by releasing the nuts 17, and the coils are accessible when the flanged cover 13-14 'is removed. The four coils are `@,Qllnected in by rings 20, 21, 22 and 23 of insulating material suitably arranged as shown. Therings are held in assembled relation by means of a bushing 24 fitted over the hub, and havingv a flange at its inner end engaging the innermost insulating ring 20. A ring nut 25 is threaded onto the outer end of the bushing, and bears against the insulating ring 22.

Pairs 26 and'27 of brushes cooperate with the rings, the brushes being of standard construction, and supported by bolts 28, connected to slotted lugs 29 on a cap 30 connected with the motor casing. The pairs of brushes are oppositely arranged as shown, one pair being connected to the positive lead, and the other to the negative lead, to insure continuous contact with the rings.

The circuit leads are connected with the pairs of brushes, the positive lead 31 being connected in the present instance with the brushes 26, while the negative lead 31a is connected with the brushes 27. A switch 32 is interposed in the connection 'for breaking the circuit when desired, and a 240 volt 50 watt lamp 33 is arranged across the circuit to absorb back E. M. F. caused by residual flux in the coils. It will be obvious from the description that when the switch 32 is closed,

the coils will be energized, and the plates'l will become magnetic, these plates being in effect a part of the c-ores.

The fiask 2 has the usual lateral flange 34 at the bell end, and it will be noticed referring to Fig. 2 that that portion 35 of the fiask which would engage the wear plates 15 is relatively thin, so that the contact with the' wear plates would be limited if thispart only were relied 'upon for engagement with such surfaces. In order to provide increased contact a plate 36 is provided, which abuts the thin edge of the end of the flask, and is detachably connected with the flask in a manner to cause rotation of the flask therewith, and to prevent longitudinal movement of the flask with respect thereto.

The plates 36 are of a size to correspond with the size of the flask f or the pipe to be y cast. Usually five sizes are provided, namely: for flasks for casting pipesof 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 inches respectively. Each plate 36 has three arms extending laterally therefrom toward the flasks. Two of the arms 37 are alike, being plain keys adapted to engage notches 38 in the flange 34. The other arm 39 engages a similar notch 38, but this arm is enlarged laterally at its free end to form a head 40, which prevents relative longitudinal movement of flask and plate. The

nected thereto.

plates are connected with the flasks, by engaging the arm 39 first, the plate being held inclined during the engagement of the said .nected with the motor and the flask.

In operation each flask has a. plate 36 con When the motor is axially movable on the carriage, ythe plate 36 may be connected to the flask before or after it is on the carriage. l/Vhen the motor is not axially movable, the plate is connected to the flask before it is rolled upon the carriage., In this instance, when the flask is in place, the switch 32 is operated to energize the coils, andthe liask is-tightly locked to the motor. After casting the switch 32 is operated to break the circuit, immediately'releasing the flask from the motor, ,and the clutch )late 36 may be transferred to another flask. y ith this arrangement the clutch not only drives the flask, but holds it from endwise move'- nient during the spinning or rotating operation.

What is claimed as new is 1. In a centrifugal casting machine, in com- 'netic clutch mechanism for connecting the motor to an end of the mold, said mechanism electrically controlled.,

2. In a centrifugal casting machine, in combination, means for rotatably supporting a flask or mold to be cast, a motor, and a magnetic clutchmechanism for connecting the motor to an end of the mold, said mechanism electrically controlled, and including a contact plate detachably connected with the mold or flask.

3. In a centrifugal casting machine, in combination, means for rotatably supporting a flask or mold to be cast, a motor, and a magnetic clutch mechanism for connecting the motor to an end of the mold, said mechanism electrically controlled, and including an imperforatc Contact plate having lateral arms,

.the mold notched to receive the arms, one

of the arms headed to prevent relative longitudinal movement of plate and mold.

4. In a centrifugal casting machine, in combination, means for rotatably supporting a flask or mold to be cast, a motor, and a mag netic clutch mechanism for connecting the motor to an end of the mold, said mechanism electrically controlled, and including` an imperforate contact plate for detachable connection with the fiask, electro-magnets connected with the motor and provided with flask or mold to be cast, a motor, and clutch mechanism for connecting the motor to the mold, said mechanism electrically controlled, and including a disk secured to the motor shaft and provided with laterally extending cores, windings on the cores connected in series, collector rings connected with the Windings, and brushes for connecting With a source of supply engaging the rings, a cover for the cores at the ends remote from the disk and having openings at the cores, and Wear plates secured tothedisk, closing the openings, and lapping on the outer face of the cover plate.

6. In a centrifugal casting machine, including means to rotatably support a flask or motor, and a motor, a clutch for connecting the motor shaft With the fiask or mold,'in cluding a disk secured to the shaft and provided With electro-magnets including cores extending toward the flask and having Wear plates detachably connected With the cores for engaging the end of the flask.

7 In a centrifugal casting machine of the class described, including means for rotatably supporting a flask ormold, and yan electric motor for rotating the mold, a magnetic clutch for connecting the motor to the flask, and a contact plate for engagement by the1 clutch detachably connected With the flask.

8. In a centrifugal casting machine of the. class described, including means for rotatably supporting a flask or mold, and an electric motor for rotating the mold, a magnetic clutch for connecting the motor to the flask, and a contact plate for engagement by the clutch detachably connected with the flask, the connection including lateral arms near the periphery of the plate, the fiaskhaving notches forvreceiving the arms, one of the arms headed to prevent longitudinal movement of flask and plate.

9. In a centrifugal casting machine of the class described, including means for rotatably supporting a flask or mold, and an electric motor for rotating the mold, a magnetic clutch for connecting the motor to the flask.

l0. IIn a centrifugal casting machine, a rotatable flask, an electric motor in axial alinement lWith. the flask, and a magnetic clutch having its active face positioned to cooperate with an end of the mold.

Signed at Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama this 29th day of Sept. A. D. 1927.

WILLIAM D. MOORE. CLARENCE D. BARR. JAMES W. MOORE.

WILLIAM J. WILSON.

mounted on the shaft of the motor and having its active face positioned to cooperate with an end of the flas 11. In a centrifugal casting machine, means for supporting a fiask for'rotation, a motor for rotating the flask, and a magnetic clutch rotated by the motor, said clutch having its active face positioned to cooperate With an end of the/flask to impart rotation thereto. l

l2. In a centrifugal casting machine including a frame having means for rotatably supporting a fiask or mold, and for enabling removal and replacement of the mold laterally on the frame, a motor on'the frame having its shaft inalinement with the axis of the mold 

